APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Monday, April 17, 2017 - 1:45pm

Dawn Scothern

APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

April is known as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” with the 2017 theme as “Building Community, Building Hope.” April is nearly half over, so a reminder is in order. Many activities are planned across the State, such as: 1,100 pinwheels planted in Veterans’ Park to educate the masses. National Child Abuse Prevention Month, also known as Child Abuse Prevention Month in America, is an annual observance in the United States, dedicated to raising awareness and preventing child abuse. April has been designated Child Abuse Prevention Month in the United States since 1983.

April also is Parental Alienation Awareness Month. What does that mean? "Parental alienation and hostile aggressive parenting deprive children of their right to be loved by and showing love for both of their parents. The destructive actions by an alienating parent or other third person (like another family member, or even a well-meaning mental health care worker) can become abusive to the child - as the alienating behaviors are disturbing, confusing and often frightening, to the child, and can rob the child of their sense of security and safety leading to maladaptive emotional or psychiatric reactions." April 25th has been recognized annually and worldwide as Parental Alienation Awareness Day, and in many places, also use the term “Bubbles of Love Day.”

During Parental Alienation Awareness/Bubbles of Love Day, “bubbles” are blown in honor of our missing children and the child psychological abuse they are suffering from. There are many events around the world that take place on this day, with hopes that this will become an annual event all over the US.

The public is shocked by how large of an epidemic this is and many have had it happen to their family, but thought they were isolated incidents. Many were very concerned when they learned that it causes suicides in parents and children because of the deprivation of the parent/child relationship.

This month provides an excellent opportunity for our country to demonstrate its support in ending parental alienation and to support the thousands of victims (parents and children) who are suffering among us. Moreover, it is a wonderful opportunity to educate the public of the lifelong effects of parental alienation on children who deal with this and the prevalence of this epidemic in today’s society. All children NEED both parents in their lives. Parental Alienation is a form of child psychological abuse brought on by the alienating parent, to the targeted parent, which severs any emotional, physical ties of the children to the targeted parent. Bringing awareness and education to this will save future children from enduring this kind of emotional trauma.